Apparently we are popular. Like... super admired, revered, and loved. Everyone knows us, wants to be around us, and only talks about us in the nicest way.
It's because of our dog.
And I should probably clarify and say by "us" I mean Felix.
When it comes to dog owners who take their pooches to the bark park, humans don't really know each other's names, just each other's dogs names. And while there are umpteen million things going on in each other's lives that we could ask about or comment on, what we only ever end up talking about is our dogs (and their apparently social lives).
I am not complaining. My dog is like the Cady Herron of the Eagle Creek Bark Park, and I would rather him be the new "Africa" than the one everyone avoids in the lunch line. Everyone always comments on how sociable and happy our dog is and we always have to agree (because he is), at which point I think "So you agree... you think you're really pretty?".
The other interesting thing about being around so many owners and their pets is seeing how close we all are in personality to our dogs. Jerry (the one owner name I know) has two wolf hybrids named Blue and Maise. Both Jerry and his wolves are calm, commander types. There's the older lady with her tiny puff of a dog named Freddie. Neither one ever leave the comfort and shade of the cabin at the park, preferring just to watch everyone else run amok. The restaurant owner with the cool shades who owns the former police dog/German Shepard named Duke. They're both handsome and athletic and really good at sports (apparently). And then there's us. Cori and I are both geeky and generally very bubbly people, which makes sense why our joyful squirrely looking dog makes sense for us. We wouldn't have him any other way.
Where am I going with this and what does it have to do with pasta? Um... I put peaches in pasta, so there's that...
The recipe embodies the quirkiness of our ever-growing family. Always looking to brighten things up, I stumbled across a killer recipe on Thug Kitchen the other day. I read the title aloud, and was met with dubious looks from both Cori and Felix. When it came time to grilling the marinated peaches, the house filled with the most exotic aromas, both smoky, sweet, and pungent. Spicy sesame oil mixes with the dressing and gives it that great Asian bend. The sugars in the peaches caramelize when grilled, and are balanced so perfectly by the spice powder. This dish is about the end of summer, the longing for more complex flavors in Fall, and the desire to stand out , be weird, and live life happily. Just like Felix.
End of Summer Pasta with Grilled Peaches and Hot Sesame Noodles
1 lb (16 oz) thin, long cut pasta (such as spaghetti, angel hair, or soba noodles)
4 medium peaches, ripe but not soft (you'll grill them, which means you don't want them to fall apart)
1 tablespoon neutral tasting oil (I used canola)
1 tablespoon lemon (juice from 1/2 a lemon)
2 teaspoons Chinese Five Spice powder (available at most grocery stores)
a pinch of salt
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons lemon juice (juice from 1 lemon)
2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons hot sesame oil (toasted would work well too)
1 inch pieces of fresh ginger, peeled and finely minced
1/2 cup finely chopped spinach (or arugula would be great too)
Prepare the pasta according to the package directions. Once the pasta has finished cooking, rinse off with cold water and set aside in a large serving bowl.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon juice, Chinese Five Spice Powder, and salt. Set aside for a moment.
Slice the peaches (leaving the skin on) about 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch thick. Add to the bowl with the marinade.
While the peaches rest, combine the water, lemon juice, tamari, sesame oil, and ginger in a small bowl. Whisk vigorously and adjust to taste.
Turn on a grill (or a grill pan) to medium-high heat. Spray with non-stick cooking spray or brush with peanut oil. Grill the marinated peach slices for 45 seconds per side. The house will fill with crazy, smoky, sweet aromas. Just go with it - you aren't doing anything wrong.
In a large serving bowl, toss the pasta with the sesame dressing, then add the peaches, and finally the chopped spinach. Toss together and serve cold or at room temperature.
Felix, totally getting some love from Duke.